Pearl was published again in 1918 in response to the horrors of the First World War. It was again edited by Isreal Gollancz who was responsible for the 1891 edition with Holman Hunt’s illustration, and this time it was commissioned by Charles Wakefield, Mayor of London from 1915 to 1916, a generous supporter of charities. The book describes its aim as ‘to link the beneficent work of the Red Cross with the sentiment of English Literature’.

The pearl became a symbol for the Red Cross after Princess Victoria, the daughter of Edward VII and sister of George V, set up an initiative to collect pearls to string together into a necklace to sell to raise funds for the charity. The idea took off and soon over a thousand pearls were collected from members of all parts of society.

The London Times printed a letter sent accompanying a donated pearl: ‘It is not a perfect pearl, but it is the only one I have. I send it in memory of a pearl beyond all price already given, my only son’. This sentiment would not have been lost on the poet of the 14th century. The sale was held on 19th December 1918.

Those donating pearls or buying copies of the pearl poem were seeking also consolation for loss, perhaps not so much hoping to escape into visions of heavenly bliss as the poet of the 14th century, but in contributing to charity to help those still alive.

The understanding of the pearl and the medieval poem of the same name has evolved throughout time, but the power of the pearl as a symbol of pricelessness, loss and consolation have remained.

The National Art Library

The National Art Library section brings you news about exciting new service developments, throws a spotlight on our collections, displays and research projects and provides information about electronic resources with ‘tips and wrinkles’ for making the most of them.

The National Art Library (NAL) is a reference library, open to all visitors. The collection covers the fine and decorative arts, design and art history and contains books, periodicals, auction sale catalogues, exhibition catalogues, electronic resources and other formats of material. Amongst the treasures are artists’ books, illustrated books, fine bindings and rare and unique manuscripts.